Baylor University and Boston University are approaching a settlement in a federal lawsuit over Boston’s use of an interlocked “BU” logo. Baylor sued the Trustees of Boston University on Aug. 8, 2025, raising claims tied to the universities’ trademark rights.
Baylor said in a Sept. 23 court filing that the institutions had made substantial progress but were not ready to end the case. The university said it expects either to submit a dismissal agreement or provide another status report by Oct. 9, 2026.
The dispute involves an earlier arrangement between the schools. Baylor first used its “BU” mark in 1912 and sought federal trademark registration in 1987. Boston initially challenged that application, according to information cited in the article, but the universities later reached an agreement allowing both to use the initials.
Historically, Boston displayed the letters next to each other, while Baylor used an interlocked design. Boston began offering merchandise and club-sports jerseys featuring interlocked letters in 2018. Baylor contacted Boston in 2021, but the products continued to appear on school-related and licensed merchandise, according to the article.
Baylor’s 2025 lawsuit cited trademark infringement, unfair competition and false designation of origin under the Trademark Act of 1946. President Linda Livingstone said the university’s goal was not civil litigation but that protecting Baylor’s trademarks and brand was important.
